FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

TRACY, CALIFORNIA

A BRIEF HISTORY

     The United States was getting ready to celebrate its centennial, and Ulysses Simpson Grant was in the White House.  It was the year of Custer's Last Stand and the welcoming of Colorado to the Union.  Gold fever was beginning to die down along the dusty valley of California.

     At the Western rim of the Central Valley, the town of Tracy had been formed.  (Tracy, in all the documents of the time, is described as "near Ellis".) Existing, at first, because of the railroad and neighboring agriculture, the town was now becoming home to families.  There was

a growing need for a Protestant church.

     It was April 1876 when a small group of seven people organized the First Presbyterian Church in Tracy.  The Reverend J. N. Hubbard, and his wife, assisted in this beginning. The church met at the Willow School.  Hubbard was also the pastor of the Grayson church and thus was not always able to be in the pulpit.  The Reverends Tubbs, White and Harris were available in those times.

     The Stockton and Sacramento Presbytery helped support the church.  In 1877, a grant of $600 was given for the pastor's living and traveling expenses.  The First Presbyterian Church of Tracy was officially enrolled in the Presbytery on April 8, 1877. It’s date of incorporation was October 7, 1887.

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     By 1886 it was agreed that the church needed a building. There was not a great deal of money for one and the Trustees voted to invite the German Lutherans to assist in building a facility.  The Trustees, with familiar names such as Lammers, Stocking, Chrisman, Schulte and Butterfield, set out to make the sanctuary a reality.  It was dedicated on October 2, 1887 at a cost of $2,400, and was located on Central Avenue at 9th Street at the heart of the community. The new steeple

was fitted with a bell, brought around the horn through the Straits of Magellan. 

     The church had approximately 21 members and a church school of 101 when, in October of 1887, Pastor John Niles Hubbard died.  He is buried in the Tracy Cemetery. 

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    In 1914, the church members felt that a better location for the church could be secured.  The building was surrounded by places of business.  Thus, the church building was picked up and moved to 10th Street between A and B Streets on March 17, 1917. Moved again, it is currently on West 9th near the Tracy Ballroom, and is occupied by another worshipping congregation.

     The church grew as the town grew.  It struggled as the town struggled.  For example, for many months during 1921, there was debate as to whether or not the congregation should continue together due to influenza, war, transfer of members, absence of a pastor and decreased support.  Mrs. Oscar Lea kept the church school going, even during the summer months.  In November of that year, the Board of Trustees voted to have a trial period of six more months to see if the church was viable.  The congregation called the Reverend G. Sydney Barber as pastor.  At the end of the period, the church was vital and progressing.

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     Three reasons were published about why the Presbyterians needed a new facility: First, the city was growing. Second, new homes, shops, and businesses had been built. Third, there was the quote, "The government of the country never gets ahead of the religion of the country" by Calvin Coolidge.  The people began their campaign.

     Mr. and Mrs. Charles Slack and Mr. and Mrs. A. Grunaur gave property to the church within the "Lincoln Manor Subdivision", and so in 1924 the process of building a new facility was begun.

     The cornerstone was laid on January 3, 1926 with the dedication of the building on March 14, 1926.  The cost of the sanctuary and education building was nearly $40,000.  Yet, the economy was good and things were going well. The funds were quickly pledged.

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     In 1927 the church requested to transfer to the Presbytery of San Francisco.  It was a time of growth and prosperity in the Bay Area. Money was available to do what needed to be done.  They voted to set the pastor's salary at $2,000.  Then came the Depression. By 1931, the church had borrowed money, and was  down to $4.94 in the treasury. In 1935 they were forced to sell the surrounding church property to the city for back street assessments.  In 1940, the pastor's salary was $930.00.  But, the hardest part was over.

     Things began to be better for the church.   In 1943, the membership totaled 80 with a church school enrollment of 130.  The town was stable once again and so was the First Presbyterian Church.

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    The congregation was growing again.  It was l954 and there was not enough space.  Three new rooms were added to the northeast corner of the building, the manse (our building to the east, used now by the Nursery School) was purchased.  Again, the congregation grew and the duplex at 1215/1217 El Portal was purchased along with the parking lot on Holly Drive.  Various houses have been purchased and sold as manses over the years.  Currently, the church has no parsonage.

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During the pastorates of Howard Rhodes, Clifford Custer, and Standford Davis, the church made much progress as a center for nurture, care and concern.  The Presbyterians in Tracy established a Neighborhood House and Ministry, were in the forefront of creating the McHenry House ministry to the homeless, and have sponsored and housed the Tracy Interfaith Ministries helping those who need food and clothing.

World, national and local missions have been supported. The First Presbyterian Church relates Internationally to countless areas of service around the world.

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            In 1988, the congregation began a long range planning process which includes 1, 5 and 10 year goals and objectives.  The main building was completely remodeled in 1989 including replastering the sanctuary, painting all rooms, and recarpeting.  Various projects such as needed outdoor lighting, enlarging the public address system, and finishing the balcony were  accomplished.

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First Presbyterian Church is currently active in a wide variety of ministries including our Children's Center located in our Education Building, and our Counseling Center located on the west side of the main building. A list of current programs is available.    

     Central to our life together is our worship of Jesus Christ and sharing the Word both within the fellowship and with those outside our walls.  Our worship services seek to be uplifting and challenging.

We have a variety of special services throughout the year, including Christmas Eve Candlelight, Maundy Thursday Communion, Good Friday, and joint services with other churches of our community and denomination.

     First Presbyterian Church is involved in National and World Missions through the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church and by personal relationship to specific missionaries.

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THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TODAY

 First Presbyterian Church has a grand future.  Building on the strength of the past, the congregation is beginning a new era in ministry, mission, and witness.  With the challenges of a growing community, and the special needs of modern society, First Presbyterian Church of Tracy is facing the future with The Spirit, energy, intelligence, imagination, and love.       

Currently, we have three buildings. The main building, including sanctuary, social hall,  lounge, kitchen and offices was built in 1926. The "manse", or parsonage to the east, is used for education purposes and is currently being used primarily for our Children's Center Nursery

School.  The "duplex" at 1215/1217 El Portal houses the Church Offices and conference rooms.  The church owns a parking lot on Holly Drive and is in the final stages of developing a piece of land at MacArthur Drive and Mt. Diablo.